Three Year Deal Secured To Keep Bodyboard King Pro In Kiama

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has today announced that almost $1 million in visitor spend is expected to be generated for the South Coast after the NSW Government has secured a three year deal to host the Kiama Bodyboard King Pro up to 2021.

Mr Ward made the announcement today at Kiama Surf Beach and was joined by the Mayor of Kiama Mark Honey, Luke Madden CEO of Surfing NSW and Alex Leon, CEO of Association of Professional Bodyboarders.

Mr Ward said that the NSW Government was proud to support the 10-day event, which attracts visitors from across the globe and raises awareness of the area as a potential holiday destination.

“Kiama will strengthen its position as Australia’s home of bodyboarding when the sport’s best athletes visit in August to take part in the 2019 Kiama Bodyboard King Pro,” he said.

“The NSW South Coast looks forward to welcoming world class athletes from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, Hawaii, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, France, Spain and the UK.

“We estimate that the Kiama Bodyboard King Pro will deliver nearly $1 million to the local visitor economy over three years as well as generating extensive media coverage showcasing our beautiful coastline.

“The wider region is recognised as one of the best areas in the world for bodyboarding given the various breaks from Cronulla to Kiama.

“Kiama is famous for its blowhole but there are many more intriguing and spectacular things to do and see, from the gorgeous beaches to the exhilarating Kiama Coast Walk.

“The ease of getting here is another plus, with the drive from Sydney around 90 minutes along the marvellous Grand Pacific Drive or through the Royal National Park past Wollongong,” Mr Ward said.

The NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall MP said that the Kiama Bodyboard King Pro was part of an impressive calendar of the country’s best and brightest events, all of which call NSW home.

“Ensuring we identify, attract and nurture events in regional NSW is a key priority for the NSW Government as we continue to be Australia’s number one State for tourism.”

The Mayor of Kiama Mark Honey said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have Kiama secure this prestigious sporting event for the next three years,” he said.

“Our Surf Beach is an ideal location for a world-class bodyboarding competition, with great surf conditions and places for fans to watch the action close up. I’m sure Kiama will once again turn on a great welcome for the athletes and fans.

“I also want to acknowledge the work of Destination Kiama is securing a long term deal for this event, which provides our local businesses with more than 100 competitors in town over 11 days, in the slower season of winter, a key goal of our Tourism and Events Strategy,” Mayor Honey said.

Other stops on the APB tour include Hawaii, Brazil, Chile and Portugal.

The Kiama Bodyboard King Pro is the only Association of Professional Bodyboarding (APB) World Tour event in Australia and will run from 30th August – 8th September 2019 at Surf Beach.

The Kiama Bodyboard King Pro is a collaboration between Surfing NSW, APB, Destination NSW and Destination Kiama to run and host Australia’s largest Bodyboard event.